Flow control device



I Oct. 24, 1933. w. H. WEBER 1,931,781

FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 14, 1929 avwanboz a t/[101mm,

V 35 able manner.

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 a stares FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Walter H. VJeber, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 14, 1929. Serial. No. 362,909

14 Claims;

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in flow control devices, and more particularly to a device for by-passing from a main stream a portion or all of a stream of flowing fluid.

An object of my invention is to provide a device by which a stream of flowing fluid'may be split up into sub-streams of desired volumes.

Another object is to provide a device by which a portion or all of a fluid stream may be bypassed from a main fluid stream at an increased velocity of flow.

Another object is to provide a device for heating a desired portion or all of a fluid stream.

Another object is to provide a device'for regulating the temperature of a fluid stream from a source of heat of substantially constant or increasing temperature.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my inventionin which drawing- The figure is a view in vertical central section of my device. Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, 1 designates generally alhollow casing providing an internal chamber 1 and comprisa bottom member 2 and a top member 3 which are secured tightly together in any-suit- A gasket, or the like, is prefer ably interposed between the members-2 and 3 to insure a sealed fluid tight joint. The casing l is preferably of metal such as iron, and is formed by casting, or a like operation. The bottom member 2 has an outlet port 5' and an inlet port, not shown, as the same is similar to and preferably directly'opposite the port5. Through the substantially parallel top wall 6 and bottom wall 7 oflthe member 2, are substantially equal concentric apertures 8; 9, respectively, which are preferably circular. Extending between the walls 6, 7 is a conduit member 10, preferably cylindrical and of an external diameter substantially equal to the diam eter of apertures 8, 9, and which extends into and is tightly sealed at its top and bottom ends 11, 12 the apertures 8, 9, respectively. tending upward into member 3 from the bottom wall 13 thereof, is a conduit member 14, prefer- CZ ably cylindrical, which opens through wall 13,

and which is concentric with and of substantially equal internal diameter to the internal diameter of member 10. The member 14 opens into a substantially horizontal conduit member 15 within the member 3 and which extends through 0 one of the vertical side walls, as at 16, thereof. The member 15 is closed at its inner end by an end walll'l and has a substantially flat hori zontal internal face portion 18 in its top wall directly above and of area substantially equal to the bore area of member 14. Through the engaging walls 6 and 13, and the interposed gasket 4, are passages or flow ports 19 which provide communication between the parts of chamber 1* composed of the space in the memher 2 around member 10 and the space in memher 3 around members 14, 15. The tubular members 10, 14' and 15 comprise a fluid conveying conduit member, of which the members 10 and 14 comprise one portion or leg of the conduit member, and the tubular member 15 comprises another portion or leg of the conduit member which extends at substantially right angles to the first portion. Through the top wall 20 of top member 3 is an aperture 21 which is '30 concentric with an aperture 22 in the flat top wall portion 18. Bridging the space within top member 3 between walls 20 and 18, is a sleeve member 23 rigidly secured and sealed in the apertures 21, 22, by means, for example, of a s5 lateral flange 24 overlying wall 20 and by threaded engagement of sleeve member 23 in the aperture 22. Vertically or longitudinally reciprocable in thebore of sleeve member 23 is a plunger member 25. The sleeve member 23 is I preferably provided with an annular upwardly open recess 26 surrounding member 25 and in which islpacking or other sealing means 2'7 held in place by a packing gland or nut 28. Rigid with the top wall 20 is a support member 29, preferably comprising spaced, substantially parallel arms, of which but one is shown. Pivoted or fulcrumed on the member 29 on a pin 30 extending therefrom and preferably between the said arms, is a lever member 31, preferably a bell-crank having one end thereof slotted, as at 32, and at its other end having means 33 for engagement by an operating member (not shown), such as a pull wire or rod. The slotted end of lever member 31 extends into operative relation to the top end of rod or plunger member 25, from which projects a .pin or lug 34 which is positionedin the bell-crank slot 32 so that oscillation of the bell-crank will-reciprocate the plunger member 25, as is apparent from the drawing. Positioned substantially concentrically within that leg of the conduit members, composed of members 10 and 1a, is an openended conduit member 35 which is preferably cylindrical and is spaced laterally from the men1- bers l0 and 1 1 to provide substantially parallel passageways, namely, an outer annular passageway and an inn r circular passageway 3'7. The cross-sectional area of the annular passage-- way 36 is preferably about one-hall the crosssectional area of passageway 37. Extending across the conduit member 35 adjacent its upper end and rigidly fixed thereto at diametrically opposite points, is a support member 38 to which the inner depending end of the plunger member 25 is secured. The union between members 25 and 38 is preferably made by slotting the end of member 25, as at 39, so that it will straddle the member 38 and then by pivoting and seeming the members 25, 33 together by pin 40, or the like. Guide means 41 are preferably provided for the conduit member 35 may and preferably do take the fo'm of circumferentially spaced studs or pins secured to the member 35 and of a length substantially equal to the width of the annular passageway Within the member 10 is an annular member 42 of an external diameter equal to the internal ameter of member is and of an internal diam eter substantially equal to the external diameter of member 35. The member 42 is positioi and rigidly secured in member 10 at a point such that when the member 35 is in engagement with the flat top wall portion 18, the annular cross-sectional inlet area or flow space, as, between the members 35 and i2 will not be see than the cross-sectional area of passage- Way 36. The inner peripheral edge of member 42 which faces the member 35, is preferably beveled, as at 44, to serve as a guide means for telescopic movement of members 35 and 42.

The operation of my device is as follows: In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my in vention solely for the purpose of illustration, as embodied in a device adapted for controlling the temperature of the fuel mixture fed to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine; but I wish it to be understood that my invention is capable of other uses and of other embodiments in which, as in the instant embodiment, it is desired to divide a fluid stream into separate parts in order to perform an operation on an individual part or parts of the stream and then to reunite the divided fluid stream. The casing 1 is secured to the block of an internal combustion engine (not shown) with the outlet end of member 15 communicatively sealed to the engine mixture inlet or inlet manifold, and with the chamber 1 which forms an intermediate part of the engine exhaust manifold communicatively sealed to the engine exhaust outlets so that the hot exhaust gases from the engine will iiow into chamber 1 from the casing inlet above described to heat the walls of members 10, 14 and 15, and thereby supply heat by conduction and radiation to the annular passageway 36. From the chamber 1 the hot exhaust gases flow through the outlet port 5 into the exhaust conduit or pipe 45 and thence to atmosphere. The annular men ber 42 is shown as embodying the end of the mixture outlet l6 of a carburetor 47, or the like, of which a portion only is shown, having a throttle valve or mixture control means 48, as is customary. The carburetor and therefore the member 42 are secured to the casing 1 by studs,

bolts, or the like a9, and a gasket 50 may be employed to seal the joint; In the drawing, the open-ended conduit member 35 is shown in its uppermost position in which the top end of member 35 is in engagement with wall portion or closure means 18, so that the member 35 is sub-- stantially sealed and substantially the entire fluid stream from the carburetor, or other source, will pass or flow through the annular inlet l3 passageway 36 to the portion 15, and therefore the fluid stream will receive its maximum of rom the heat supplied to conduit members 1G, 14 and 15. When the device is employed with an internal combustion engine, the member 35 will be moved by the operator to position illustrated on engine starting, or in cold weather, as is well understood. in order to regulate decrease the maximum high temperature the fluid stream, the member 35 is moved downward by means of the bell-crank lever 31 an plunger 25, so as to move the top or outlet of member 35 away from the closure 13 and taneously decrease the'cross-sectional area the inlet 43 to th annular passagew uu that a portion of the fluid stream 11 through the circular bore 37 and be subctan unheated. This unheated portion of the fluid stream will reunite in the condo ember 15 with the heated portion of the the portion heated to maxii'num by through passageway 35, will be tempered cooled down by mixture with the stream pc from passageway 37. As the membe; 35 ually lowered or moved away from closure 18, the mixture stream delivered to the en issuing from conduit member 15, will gran decrease in temperature. When the cotton of the member 35 enters the annular member 42, the entire fluid stream v through bore 37 and will in its passage 112191 5? through be insulated by the annular air space of passageway 36 from the heat of conduit portions 10 and 14, but the stream will, neverthele impinge upon the wall portion 13, which is heated and will therefore be heater. soinev but in a lesser degree than when any of the stream is passed through passageway 3-5. As member 35 is moved further into member 42, the velocity of the stream and its int c contact with the wall portion 18, will be decree. ed, thus 1 further decreasing the temperature of as entire stream. When member has been moved downward its maximum distance, at which the bottom end of member 35 will seat on the shoulder 51 in the annular member 42, the flui stream fed from thecarburetor or some will be substantiallyunheated on reaching til-- outlet 15, and will have owed pas ways 37 and 15, which is its normal path of flow.

flow

As above described, the cross-sectional o'" 1 passageway 36 is about or somewhat less than half the cross-sectional area of passageway 37, in that anoporator may his car soon as possible after the en fires, without necessitating excessive use of the 1 air inlet choke valve (not shown) ti. buretor. This results from the fact flow through the passageway 35 will be at a much higher velocity than through passageway 37, so

as to aid in getting the relatively cold mi ture into the engine cylinders as quickly possible and to assist distribution. In employin "fly vice for use with an internal combustic the tube or member 3"! will be gradually depressed or moved downward as the engine loo ii's

warms up, as is well understood. I wish it to be noted that the area of the passageway 36 when my device is employed with an internal combustion engine, is suflicient to run a car at substantially sixty miles perhour level road speed, which is sufiicient for all practical purposes. When greater power is desired, however,

- the tube 37 is gradually lowered, which, as is Letters lel passages, and means to move said secondnamed conduit member.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a fluid-conveying conduit member, an open-ended fluid-conveying conduit member within said first-named member and spaced therefrom to provide substantially parallel passages, closure means for'each of said passages, said second-named conduit member being movable and having cooperable relation with said closure means to vary inversely the volumes of fluid which can flow through said passages, and means to move said second-named conduit member.

3. A device of the, character described, comprising a fluid-conveying conduit member, an open-ended fluid conveying conduit member within said first-named member and spaced therefrom to provide substantially parallel passages, closure meanscooperable with one end of said second-named conduit member, a second closure means conforming to the configuration oi the cross-section of the space between said members and cooperable with the other end of said second-named conduit member to close said space, said second-named conduit member being movable to vary inversely the volumes of fluid which can flow through said passages, and means to move said second-named conduit member.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a fluid-conveying conduit member having one portion extending at an angle to another portion thereof, an open-ended fluid-conveying conduit member within said other portion and spaced therefrom to provide substantially parallel passages, closure means within and fixed to said other portion and having a bore therethrough providing a sliding fit forsaid second-named conduit member, said second-named conduit member. being movable toward a Wall of said one portion toregulate the area of outlet from said second-named conduit member and simultaneously to move said secondnamed conduit member from said closure means to regulate inversely the area of outlet and the area of inlet to the space between said conduit wall to thereby ,increase the velocity of flow through said space relative to the'flow through her being movable from and to a position in will be directed through said space andbe said second-named conduit member for a given volume per unit of time, and means to move said second-namedconduit member. I 5. A device of the character described, comprising a I fluid-conveying conduit member, a fluid-conveying open-ended conduit member within said first-named conduit member and spaced therefrom to provide substantially parallel passages, and means cooperable with said second-named conduit member to cause flow eitherv through said second-named conduit member or through the space-between said conduit members-and to regulate'the ratio of simultaneous flow through both of said conduit membersfsaid means and said second-named conduit member being relatively'movable into cooperable relation,

said second-named conduit 'member having 'a cross-sectional flow area greater than the crosssectional flow area of'said first-named conduit member whereby the velocity of flow through the space between said conduit members is greater than the velocity of flow through said secondnamed conduit member for a given volume per unit of time.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a fluid conveying conduit member, means to supply heat to said member to heat the fluid conveyed thereby, a second fluid-conveying conduit member Within said first-named conduit member and spaced therefrom to provide substantiallyparallel passages and to insulatesaid second-named conduit member from the heat supplied to said firstnamed conduit member, andmeans cooperable with said second-named member to simultaneously prevent fluid flow through said second-named conduit member and permit fluid flow through the space between said. conduit members whereby the flowing fluid will be heated, said last-named means being operable to prevent fluid flow through said space and permit fluid flow through said second-named conduit member whereby the flowing fluid will be substantially unheated, said second-named means'and said second-named conduit member being relatively movable into cooperable relation.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a fluid-conveying conduit member, means to supply heat to said member to heat the fluid conveyed thereby, a fluid-conveying open-ended conduit member longitudinally movable within said first-named conduit member and spaced therefrom to provide substantially par allel passages and to insulate the interior of said second-named conduit member from the heat supplied to said first-named conduit member, closure means for said second-namedc0nduit member, said second-named conduit memwhich substantially all of the fluid will flow therethrough and be unheated, and means to move said second-named conduit member .toward said closure means to decrease the outlet area therefrom, whereby a portion of the fluid heated.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a conduit member having an inlet and an outlet, one portion of the length of said member extending at an angle to a second portion of said member, means to heat said second portion, an open-ended conduit member within said second portion in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto whereby the interior of said second member is insulated from the heat supplied to said second portion, said second-named conduit member being movable longitudinally of said second portion and toward and from a wall of said first portion to control the ratio of the part of the fluid flowing through said second member to the part flowing through the space between said members whereby the temperature of the fluid at said outletmay be regulated, and means to move said second member.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a fluid-conveying conduit member having an inlet and an outlet, means to supply heat to said member, a fluid-conveying openended conduit member within said first-named conduit member and spaced therefrom to provide substantially parallel passages and to insulate the interior of said second-named conduit member'from the heat supplied to said first-named conduit'member, a closure member fixed within said first-named conduit member and conforming to the configuration of the space between said conduit members, said closure'me'mber providing an aperture having a cross-sectional flow area substantially equal to the cross-sectional flow area of said secondnamed conduit member, said second-named conduit member being movable toward and from said closure member to regulate the ratio between the part of the fluid to be heated and the part to be unheated whereby the temperature of the fluid at said outlet may be controlled.

10'. A device of the character described, comprising a carburetor adapted to supply combustible mixture to an internal combustion engine, a conduit member providing the normal path of flow of the mixture from the outlet of the carburetor to the engine and positioned beyond the carburetor throttle, a second conduit member providing a path of mixture flow from the carburetor outlet to the engine and having a cross-sectional area less than that of said firstnamed member, and means operable to close said first-named conduit member, said means and said first-named conduit member being relatively movable to close said first-named conduit member thereby to direct the combustible mixture through said second-named conduit member whereby to substantially increase the velocity of flow thereof to aid in getting a fuel mixture of the desired richness when cold into the engine cylinders.

11. A device of the character described comprising a carburetor adapted to supply combustible mixture to an internal combustion engine, a conduit member providing the normal path of flow of'the mixture from the outlet of the carburetor to the engine and positioned beyond the carburetor throttle, a second conduit member providing a path of mixture flow from the carburetor outlet to the engine and having a cross-sectional area less than that of said first-named member, means operable to close said flrst-named conduit member, said means and said first-named conduit member being relatively movable to close said first-named conduit member thereby to direct the combustible mixture through said second-named conduitmember whereby to substantially increase prising a substantially L-shaped conduit member adapted to be connected at one end to a carburetor mixture outlet and at its other end to the cylinder inlet ports of an engine, means to supply heat to said conduit member, an open-ended conduit member positioned within one leg of said first-named member in substantially parallel spacedv relation to the walls thereof, whereby the interior of said open-ended conduit member is insulated from the supplied heat, said open-ended conduit member being movable into closing engagement with a wall of the other leg of said first-named member whereby substantially all the fuel mixture will flow through the space between said members and be heated, means'adjacent the said other end of said first-named member to close the space between said members when said openended'conduit member is moved out of engagement with the wall of said other leg whereby substantially all the fuel mixture with flow through said open-ended conduitmember and be unheated, the distance between the engageable wall and said last-named means being greater than the length'o'f said open-ended conduit member whereby the ratio of the fuel mixture flowing through said space to that flowing through said open-ended conduit member may be regulated, and means to move said openended conduit member.

13. A device for heating the combustible mixture fed to an internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust manifold having a heating chamber therein, a hollow casing superposed on said manifold and having communication with 110 said heating chamber, a conduit member extending substantially vertically upward from the bottom wall of said manifold in spaced relation to the remaining walls thereof and terminating in said casing, a second conduit member extending through a wall of said casing in spaced relation to the remaining walls thereof and substantially at right angles to said first-named conduit member and communicatively connected to the upper end thereof and having means for 120 connection at its free end to engine inlet ports, a guide sleeve extending through a wall of said casing and a wall of said second-named conduit member, the longitudinal axis of said sleeve substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said first-named conduit member, a rod member sealed in said sleeve and slidable therethrough, an open-ended conduit member concentrically within said first-named conduit member and movable across said second-named conduit member into'sealing engagement with the inside top'wall thereof, said third-named conduit member having operative connection to said rod member for movement toward and from said inside top wall, and an annular member having an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said firstnamed conduit member and sealed therein adjacent its bottom end, the internal diameter of said annular member beingsubstantially equal 140 to the external diameter of said third-named conduit member whereby said third-named conduit member may be moved by said rod member into said annular member to close the space between said flrst-named conduit member and 145 said third-named conduit member, said annular member being adapted to receive a combustible fuel mixture for delivery to said first-named and said third-named conduit member.

14. A device for heating the combustible mix- 150 tially all the fuel mixture will flow through the space between said conduit members and be heated, means adjacent the other end of said first-named conduit member and operable to close the space between said conduit members upon movement of said open-ended conduit member out of closing relation to said closure member whereby to direct substantially all of the fuel mixture through said open-ended conduit member.

WALTER H. WEBER. 

